it was finally quiet on the clinical desk
the end of the day with nothing much left
we were slumped around it talking about death

I remembered the chats I had with mum
about life and death and what you become
she wanted hope; I tried to give her some

but it’s hard when you don’t believe in spirit
just every natural thing has a limit
and the really magical thing is physics

her proof of course was the ghost of Fred
who appeared one night at the foot of her bed
and THAT’S the first she knew he was dead

anyway, we often chatted about this
reincarnation versus fiery pits
we’d always end on good terms with a kiss

I was shopping in Sainsbury’s (the vegetable aisle)
when my sister rang to say she’d died
in bed that night with the dog by her side

so after all those talks about maggots
angels and spirits, atoms and planets
I lost the connection weighing carrots